#DailyDevotion God Is Merciful Even To Murderers
1st Sunday in Lent
Gen 4:1–26
Gen 4:1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.”
Gen 4:15 Then the LORD said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.
In the Hebrew it is apparent that Eve believed the threat God made to the serpent. The literal reading of the text reads, “I have given birth to a man, the Lord.” She believed Cain was the promised seed who would crush the head of the serpent. Unfortunately this would not be the case, though she certainly still thought this at the birth of Able naming him worthless. There was no need for another male child. Eve understood a seed from her womb would be the Messiah who is also her Creator.
Now a woman’s seed would be the Messiah. It would be without the help of a male. Isaiah prophesied he would be born of a virgin. Indeed the Messiah has been born of a Virgin, the Woman’s seed. Her name is Mary. His name is Jesus. Jesus means ‘the Lord saves.’ That is exactly what Jesus did. Jesus on the cross was struck by the serpent at the hand of the Romans and the Jews. But in that act, Jesus crushed the head of the serpent. He took the devil’s power away to accuse us before God and to compel us to sin. By his resurrection Jesus defeated death and the one who has the power over death, the devil. Now all who put their faith in the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Mary, the Son of God, possess eternal life.
But what about Cain? Cain was worried he would be killed by others for killing his brother. The Lord assures him this will not happen. He places a mark on Cain so he would not be attacked. Just what was that mark? Many believe it was a Tau, a Hebrew letter which resembles a cross. When we baptize people, we place the mark of the cross upon the heart and head of the baptized to mark them as one who has been redeemed by the crucified one. Cain received a mark of life which is a sign of death. Was he repentant? I think so, which is why God showed this mercy to him. What have you done that perhaps you fear reprisals from your fellow man? What have you done that perhaps you fear the judgment of God?
God does not want to punish you. He does not want you to die eternally. He has provided a Seed of a Woman to redeem you, to ransom you, to atone for your sins, your guilt and your shame. Place your trust in God’s promise that he has done this for you and you too shall receive the mark of the one crucified, Jesus Christ. Then you will no longer fear death or the devil. He cannot permanently harm you. You will have eternal life and will have gained immortality.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for providing for us one who has had victory over sin, death and the devil. Grant us faith always to trust in this one, Jesus Christ, that we may not live in fear but in faith your goodness, mercy and kindness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.